In this tutorial, we will make the communication between the Arduino and Processing. We will make the communication in both the ways, from the Arduino to Processing and from Processing to the Arduino. We will change the color of the serial window in the Processing IDE through the potentiometer value sent from the Arduino IDE. We will turn the LED ON and OFF depending upon the mouse button pressed in the Processing Serial window.

About Processing

Processing is a great source for creating graphics. The Processing IDE works for a computer like the Arduino IDE works for a micro-controller. The Processing IDE is similar to Arduino in terms of structure. It has setup functions and draw functions like an Arduino has a setup and loop function. The Processing IDE can communicate with the Arduino IDE through serial communication. This way, we can send data from the Arduino to the Processing IDE and also from the Processing IDE to the Arduino.

Installing Processing

If you do not have already installed the Processing IDE, then you need to install it first. To install it, go to the link below and download the latest version of processing IDE. https://processing.org/download/

After downloading the latest version, open the Processing IDE setup and install it. After installing, open the Processing IDE and you will see something like this.

Arduino Circuit Diagram

The connections for this tutorial are very easy. Connect the two end pins of the 1k potentiometer to the 5V and the GND pin of the Arduino. Then connect the middle pin of the potentiometer to the A0 on Arduino. Then connect the positive pin of the LED to pin 7 on the Arduino and the negative pin of the LED to the GND pin through the 220 ohm resistor.

How Does It Work?

The Arduino IDE and the Processing IDE will communicate with each other through serial communication. The Processing IDE has a serial library which makes it easy to communicate with the Arduino.

When we move the potentiometer knob, the Arduino will send a value between 0 and 255 to the Processing IDE. The Processing IDE will then change the color of the serial window according to the movement of the potentiometer knob.

Similarly, when we press the mouse button in the serial window of the Processing IDE, the Processing IDE will send a ‘1’ or ‘0’ depending on the left or right mouse button to the Arduino IDE. The Arduino IDE will then turn the LED ON or OFF according to the button pressed.

Processing Code

The Processing IDE will accept the data from the Arduino IDE through the Serial communication and will change the color of the serial window according to the data. It will also send ‘1’ or ‘0’ depending on the mouse button pressed. The Processing IDE has a serial library which makes it able to communicate with the Arduino IDE.